The QuickBooks Desktop Disco Dance

End Date for 2016 Versions is May 31

Every year Intuit releases a new version of QuickBooks desktop software. Functionality is enhanced and features are added that make the product useful for today’s businesses. As QuickBooks continues to move forward, the older technology and service models eventually end. As support and updates for QuickBooks services and integrations end, the older versions of QuickBooks become less secure and are more likely to have functional and data integrity problems.

While Intuit communicates with users about the discontinuation of the version via email and with in-product notifications, the message may be lost amid the frequent popups in the program or marketing emails.

Let this be the notification not to be missed: Most companies have more than just an investment in the software to protect. The big investments are the business processes the software supports, the transaction, customer, vendor, job and product information kept in the system, and the financial and performance data that comes from it. People, processes, and information are the building blocks of the business and losing any of it is far costlier than the cost of an annual software upgrade.

31 May 2019 marks the end of access to services for QuickBooks 2016 Desktop editions including Pro, Premier, Enterprise Solutions and Accountant editions for Windows, and the 2016 Mac edition. After that date, the base software may continue to work, but no technical support or any integrated services will function with the software.

When support and integrated services are discontinued, it means that functionality that is provided as a subscription or added service is no longer available. Payroll services, online banking, online backup, live support and other services will stop functioning and any continued use requires upgrading to a supported version of QuickBooks. 2017, 2018 and 2019 versions continue to be supported on Windows platform, and 2019 becomes the only supported version for Mac.

Another major aspect of product discontinuation is the loss of software updates, particularly security updates. Users of 2016 versions of QuickBooks will no longer receive any critical security updates starting on June 1, which could leave the installation vulnerable in a variety of ways.

Besides helping businesses manage their QuickBooks implementations, assisting with upgrades, file conversions and cloud deployments of QuickBooks desktop editions, Mendelson Consulting passes on reseller discounts to customers on all QuickBooks software, making the upgrade to the current version even more affordable.

Our team can help your business get the most from your QuickBooks software, including protecting the investments in processes and data by keeping the software up to date and working for you.

Contact us today to get your QuickBooks upgrade scheduled, and make sure you don’t have any interruptions to your payroll, online banking or data protection services the business relies on.

See you on the Disco Dance Floor!

…MARIO

MARIO NOWOGRODZKI, CPA.CITP

Mario Nowogrodzki, CPA.CITP, is founder and principal of Mendelson Consulting (www.mendelsonconsulting.com), an accounting technology firm that assists entities with planning, selecting and implementing business management systems. The firm was selected as Top Technologist by the Sleeter Group and Top Integrations Advisor by Insightful Accountant. Nowogrodzki is a member of the Florida Institute of CPAs Business Technology Section; a contributing author and speaker for Intuit, Accountex, and the Woodard Group. Contact him at mario@mendelsonconsulting.com or at 954-447-0250.